Above The Fold

"Above the fold": That's an expression you don't hear much, anymore.

It's from the newspaper business. The top half of the front page of a broadsheet newspaper is above the fold when the paper is displayed at a newsstand. That's the part that you'll see when you're browsing the papers. That's where the important news goes, and that's where the headline that's going to sell papers goes. In the glory days of print media, even small cities had more than one newspaper. The smart editor knew how to use this space to stand out from his competition.

Print media isn't what it used to be, but above the fold still has the same meaning to you, the JobSeeker. Consider your resume:

- Above the fold is the top half of the first page.
- Above the fold is where you put your most important message.
- Above the fold is what's going to sell your product.

The reader browsing the newsstand is now the HR screener or hiring manager browsing resumes. But you've still got to stand out from your competition. You've got 10 seconds to do it. If you haven't gotten his or her attention in that time, in the top half of the first page, you've lost out.

How does your resume stand up? Does it grab the reader's attention above the fold? Does it make your target reader want to read the inside pages?

Don't bury your lead. Your most important message goes first; that's what's going to sell your product. It's easy to remember: Ask yourself: "what have I got above the fold?" Assess your resume by this standard. Assess all of your marketing communications by this standard.

--Joe Levy